The region of Bucelas (demarcated since 1911) is situated at the gates of Lisbon, municipality of Loures. It is characterized by the production of white and sparkling wines based on the Arinto grape. It won fame abroad when during the Peninsular War/French Invasions, General Wellington may have taken a few casks of white Bucellas wine to King George III, and the “Lisbon Hock” started to be exported in large quantities to England. It may as well have been the wine Shakespeare immortalized with the name “Charneco”.
The entire region decayed for many years until the appearance of new projects at the beginning of the 1990s, when the figure of the oenologist Nuno Cancela de Abreu played a very important role.
Vines Quinta da Murta – Photo By João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved
One of the projects was Quinta da Murta, a wine estate with 27 hectares, located 2.5 km from Bucelas and approximately 20 km north of Lisbon, with the first harvest in 1994.
The property has 14.5 hectares of vineyard, planted at 250 meters of altitude on the valley slopes of the Boição stream, enjoying soils composed of limestone, with numerous fossils. With the natural presence of Arinto grape, whose natural acidity combined with the characteristics of the soil and the microclimate of the region allows Quinta da Murta to produce, now with the winemaker Hugo Mendes, unique wines with great potential for aging where the range of white and sparkling wines shines.
Quinta da Murta Reserva Bruto 2008 – Photo By João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved
Quinta da Murta Reserva Bruto 2008 (DOC Bucelas)
A small portion of the lot was fermented in used barrels, later maturing in the bottle. Shows an evolved, complex Arinto, with very fresh aromas, ripe citrus, lemon pie, lemon tree leaf, apple, very live and direct with minerality in the background. Mouth with a lot of frills, mousse with slight citrus, liveliness and minerality sensation in the background, beautiful acidity with a persistent and dry finish. A sparkling wine that calls for seafood dishes, for example, mussels or clams au natural with only a few drops of lemon juice and chopped coriander. Enjoy!
Contacts
Quinta da Murta, Estrada Velha do Boição nº 300
2670-632 Bucelas Portugal
Tel: 210 155 190
Mobile: 932 857 750
Fax: 210 155 193
Email: qmurtageral@hotmail.com
Site: www.quintadamurta.pt
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